LOS ANGELES, definitely isn't known for its wildlife. We don't have "deer crossing" signs within the city and the only animals we see while passing through usually have to be scraped off the pavement within four hours. While the majority of animals are domesticated others are just a very long way from home. This absence of animal competition may be what allows the squirrels to thrive in L.A. Leave it to Hollywood to attract the irregular actresses, singers, dancers...... and squirrels. They really do have a couple things in common! They can use their looks to charm people out of being angry with them. They're prone to stage fright. Their eclectic diet's consist of random things. And sometimes, not always, but sometimes everything is all about them (this only pertains to those in the L.A. region, I'm sure it's not like that anywhere else.....).
Walking around LMU's campus I literally have to divert my walking path to avoid stepping on squirrels. Fighting my inner temptation to boot them back into the bushes, I look them straight in the eyes as if to communicate: "this is my turf. Beat it, Esse." I'm sure they get it. From outside my window I catch them looking in spying on me and I can't tell if they wish to be apart of the Hannon 122 family, or if they're plotting something big. I get a little nervous I'm not going to lie.
I used to find them entertaining; running around frantically in zigzag patterns along the sidewalk. To my Hawaiian friends the "sqwur-ell's" served as a brand new species and they couldn't get over how cute and funny they were. Even just last weekend my grandmother was on campus and she suddenly stopped everyone's conversation and directed our attention towards a nearby squirrel with a half eaten piece of pizza in its mouth. She saw an innocent animal with quirky behavior-- I saw a thief!
I may be overreacting to the behavior of these varmints, I'm just tired of having to redirect my steps in order to not inconvenience them. I'm curious, are they like this everywhere else? I've done a bit of traveling and have never noticed the squirrel's in other places. Is that because they act like normal squirrel's and keep to themselves? Being one of the main subjects of wildlife, they're all-about-me characteristics represent the area frightfully well. Maybe my irritation lies with the bigger picture of L.A. but is being manifested through its all-star rodents. In that case, there's further observing to be done. To the sidewalk I go!
--J. Garcia
image: squirrel on barbed wire, via you are here, los angeles photo gallery
